PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kelly Norbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shi Thead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly Norbert has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Norbert
vs
Thead

180 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kelly Norbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shi Thead!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norbert shoots in for a takedown but Thead shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thead defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Norbert.
Norbert shoots in for a double leg but Thead sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelly Norbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norbert goes for a double leg but Thead avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Thead continues to drive forward.
Thead is looking to clinch.
Norbert dives in for a single leg takedown but Thead sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Norbert fails with a takedown attempt.
Thead throws a head kick that Norbert semi-blocks.
Thead misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Norbert drops down looking for a counter takedown but Thead sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Thead jumps into guard, dragging Norbert to the mat.

Norbert drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thead dives on top into guard.

Norbert looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thead is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thead trying to control the position from guard on top but Norbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Norbert throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thead uses it to pass to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norbert tries to bench press Thead off him but Thead keeps the position.
Thead is looking to take a break and control but Norbert is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Norbert tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thead wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thead wants to stand but Norbert is controlling his arm.

Thead decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Norbert shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norbert darts in looking for a takedown but Thead gets double underhooks and turns Norbert into the cage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norbert is defended easily by Thead.
Norbert is breathing heavily.
Norbert shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thead pinned against the cage. Thead gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Norbert shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thead as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norbert is defended easily by Thead.
Thead lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thead closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Thead tries to stand and escape but Norbert is controlling the position.

Thead decides to stand up.
Thead tries to clinch there but Norbert circles away.

Thead gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thead jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Norbert walks away with a smile on his face. Thead gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Thead shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Norbert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Norbert is refusing to be controlled, as Thead sits in half guard.

Norbert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norbert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thead wants to stand up but Norbert has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Thead escapes and gets back to his feet.
Norbert shoots in for a takedown but Thead shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thead lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thead stuffs the takedown attempt from Norbert. Norbert gets slowly back to his feet.
Norbert dives in and grabs Thead's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thead pushes down on Norbert's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shi Thead dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thead stuffs the takedown attempt from Norbert. Norbert gets slowly back to his feet.
Thead tries to clinch but Norbert moves out of range.
Thead stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thead wants it to stay on the feet.
Thead let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norbert is defended easily by Thead.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelly Norbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thead leaves Norbert with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thead tries to counter by closing the distance.
Thead thows a body kick. Norbert tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Thead lands a head kick. Norbert smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norbert shoots in for a takedown but Thead shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Norbert dives in for a single leg takedown but Thead sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Thead steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Norbert.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thead fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thead tries to close the distance and clinch but Norbert swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thead slaps away a takedown attempt from Norbert, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thead fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thead tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Norbert manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Crunch! Thead slams his shin into Norbert's torso.
Thead stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thead wants it to stay on the feet.
Thead lands a nice looking kick to the body. Norbert takes a step back to recover.

Thead closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thead taking a breather.
Norbert looking for a takedown.

Thead successfully pulls guard.
Thead is trying to keep Norbert in close.
Norbert really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Norbert postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thead is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Norbert, into his guard.

Thead throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norbert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norbert manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thead manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Norbert is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thead is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thead has escaped and now he's on top!

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thead wants to get up but he can't break Norbert's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Thead must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Thead decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Norbert, up you get!
Norbert shoots in looking for a takedown. Thead tries to sprawl out of it but Norbert keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thead manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norbert is defended easily by Thead.

Thead shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Norbert's guard.

Norbert had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thead defends it easily.
Thead has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thead wants to stand but Norbert has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Norbert working for submissions but it's allowed Thead to get to half guard.
Norbert is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norbert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thead is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Thead stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Norbert to get to his feet.
Thead closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Horrible takedown attempt by Norbert or perhaps it was just good defense by Thead, which made it look bad.
Thead tries to counter with a clinch but Norbert shakes him off and moves away.
Shi Thead seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Thead takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shi Thead showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Norbert.
Thead tries to close the distance and clinch up but Norbert swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Norbert shoots in but no luck this time.
Thead tries to close the distance and clinch but Norbert swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Thead closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thead lands in his opponent's guard.

Norbert had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thead defends it easily.

Thead stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norbert shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thead as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelly Norbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Norbert closes the distance and clinches up with Thead, looking for a takedown. Norbert pushes Thead against the cage but Thead circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thead tries to clinch up but Norbert circles away and keeps his distance.
Kelly Norbert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thead has Norbert up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norbert wants a takedown.
Norbert on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Thead pulls guard effortlessly.
Thead is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Norbert is controlling him.
Norbert tries to free his leg and advance position but Thead is retaining full guard.
Thead managing to control the position.
Thead not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Norbert looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Thead has picked Norbert up and slammed him! Norbert can't keep hold of the triangle and Thead manages to pass to side control!
Norbert is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thead throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thead content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Thead seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Norbert does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thead might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Norbert haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Norbert wants to improve his position but Thead is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Norbert looking for submissions off his back.

Thead gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Thead clinches up with Norbert and pushes him back against the cage.
Norbert wants a takedown but no success here.
Thead is pressed up against the cage. Norbert has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thead down to the mat. Thead avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Norbert is defended easily by Thead.
Thead scores with a head kick. Norbert tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norbert avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Thead as Norbert shoots in.
Kelly Norbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norbert has his takedown stuffed
and Thead counters with a left right combination that sends Norbert crashing to the mat - Thead wastes no time in diving on top of him and pounding Norbert out for a TKO! Devastating finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shi Thead!